Mining machine of the rotary type having reciprocating impact means



July 9, 1957' J. P. RUTH mums MACHINE OF THE ROTARY TYPE HAVING RECIPROCATING IMPACT MEANS 2 Shets-Sheet .1 7

Filed Oct. 18, 1954 awn/T0 Joseph R Ruth y ATTORN July 9, 1957 I J. P. RUTH 2,798,709 MINING MACHINE OF THE ROTARY TYPE HAVING I RECIPROCATING IMPACT MEANS Filed Oct. 18. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIII IN VEN TOR.

Joseph P. Rut yaw Arroknsv United 1.5;

ate

2,798,709 Fatentecl July 9, 1957 ice MINING MACHINE OF THE RUTARY TYPE HAV- ING REClPROCATlNG IMPACT MEANS This invention relates to machines and apparatus for mining and excavating, and more particularly to machines and apparatus applicable to the development of subterranean bores and the extraction and recovery of subsurface earth materials, such as coal, and has as an object to provide a novel and improved mining machine of wide utility and high penetrative efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mining machine of compact, powered unit form capable of generating and progressively advancing along a subterranean bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mining machine efliciently elfective to rend and excavate compact subterranean deposits of stubborn materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mining machine characterized by an excavating head operable to generate and to advance a bore accommodative of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mining machine characterized by a novel excavating head operable to rend and disrupt, rather than to cut or abrade, the material to which it is opposed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and

operative combination of elements as hereinafter setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a typical embodiment of the invention as organized ready for practical use.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 2-2 of Figure 1, details of centrally-housed power equipment being omitted.

Figure 3 is a front end view of the organization according to Figure 1 in working relation with a bore characteristically generated thereby.

Figure 4 is a partial section longitudinally and substantially axially of the organization according to Figure l, certain housing elements being broken away to disclose otherwise concealed constructions.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail section, on an enlarged scale, through a resiliently-yieldable roller mounting advantageously included in the structural organization of the invention.

Figure 6 is a partial section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail section taken substantially on the indicated line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail section taken substantially on the indicated line $-8 of Figure 6.

In the organization and construction'of the invention as illustrated, the various elements constituting the machine are associated in a unitary assembly with and are carried by a rigid, skeleton frame 10 which, in any desired or appropriate construction, is substantially square in end elevation, hollow and longitudinally elongated. The long face of the frame 10 lowermost when the machine is in operating position is open and unobstructed,

the parallel, long corners of the frame are preferably bevelled as shown, and rollers 11 are mounted upon and to outstand adjacent the ends of the bevelled frame corners for rotation about axes tangent to a circle perpendicular to and concentric with the longitudinal axis of the frame 10. The rollers 11 are arranged for engagement with the inner surface of a cylindrical earth bore accommodative of the machine, as represented by Figure 3, 'and in such engagement said rollers support and posi tion the frame within the accommodating earth bore for shift of the frame axially of the bore. As represented by Figure 5, the axle 12 supporting each roller 11 may be mounted between the arms of a yoke 13 slidably associated with the frame 10 for extension and retraction radially of the frame and normally urgedto the limit of its extension from the frame by resilient means, such as springs 14; such a mounting of the rollers 11 facilitating shift of the frame 10 within and in proper positioned relation with the normally rough walls of an earth bore. Since, in the practical operation of the machine, the frame it) is subject to forces tending to shift the frame with in the bore and away from the working face under process of excavation, means are provided for releasably securing the frame in appropriate operating position within the bore,'such means being represented as a longitudinallydisposed, radially-opening channel 15 projected radially from and extending the length of the uppermost plane of the frame it) in fixed relation with said frame, a toothed locking bar 16 loosely accommodated in said channel for shift radially of the frame into engagement of its exposed toothed margin with the upper arc of the earth bore accommodating the machine, a series of inclined slide surfaces 17 defining the inner and lower margin of the bar 16, a wedge bar 18 reciprocable in the base of the channel 15 in coaction with the slide surfaces 17 of the bar 16, whereby shift of the wedge bar 18 in one direction operates to elevate the toothed bar 16 and shift of the bar 18 in the opposite direction accommodates retraction of the bar 16 within the channel 15, and means, such as an hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 19 in appropriate communication through a valve 20 with a source or supply of fluid under pressure, selectively operable to shift said bar 18 in either direction Within the channel 15. ,Thus, manipulation of the Valve 20 may be had to shift the bar 13 in a direction to elevate the bar 16 into secure locking engagement with the upper arc of an earth bore, as in Figure 3, thereby clamping and immobilizing the frame it within the bore, while other manipulation of the valve 20 may be applied to shift the bar 18 in an opposite direction which permits retraction of the bar 16 from its engagement with the earth bore for consequent release of the frame it to a shiftable association within the bore.

Spaced, parallel tracks 21 are symmetrically opposed interiorly of the housing iii and longitudinally thereof, expediently on inner surfaces of the bevelled corners of said frame, for sliding coaction with the corners of a rectangular, skeleton carriage 22 of less length than the frame it) and of a size freely receivable within said frame; the carriage 22 being thus supported by and within the frame 10 in fixed angular relation with the latter and for shift longitudinally of said frame in coaxial relation therewith. Means are provided for shifting the carriage 2.2 longitudinally of the frame 10 and for holding said carriage in any desired adjusted position, and such means are illustrated as a feed screw 23 rotatably journaled through the side bars of the frame 10 at one end of said frame and extending parallel to the tracks 21 in threaded engagement through a boss 24 outstanding from an end bar of the carriage 22 adjacent the end of the frame 10 wherein the said screws are mounted, and synchronized, reversible motors 25 in. driving rela tion with the ends of the feed screws supported by the frame lltl, whereby simultaneous and synchronous operation of the motors 25 is effective to similarly rotate the feed screws 23 at each-side of the frame and carriage assembly for consequent shift of thecarriage longitudinally of the frame in either. direction as determined by the direction'of motor operation, de-energizationcf the motors 25 functioning to lock and hold the carriage 22 in its then adjusted relation with the frame It The excavating elements of the machine are supported by and operatively associated with an expediently-cylindrical housing 26 sized for accommodation within the carriage 22 and detachably secured to and incoaxial relation within saidvcarriage by means of clamp screws 27 instandingradially of the carriage from the corners at eachend thereof. The end of the housing 26 remote from the motors 25 is closed by a detachable plate 28 carrying a tubular extension 2% outstanding therefrom away from the motors 25 and in coaxial relation with the housing 26 when the plate 28-is secured to and in closing'relation therewith and a' tubular stem 30 is journaled for rotation within and extends entirely through the extension 29 with its inner end just within the end of the housing 26 closed by the plate 28, said stem '30 being held in the extension 29 against relative axial shift and being hence movable axially of the frame with the carriage 22 and elements carried thereby as said carriage is shifted in the frame. The housing 26 operatively supports an electric motor 31 interiorly thereof with its power shaft preferably coaxial therewith, and a shaft 32 axially of and extendin entirely through the stem 30 is coupled in driven relation with the motor 31 in any appropriate manner and for purposes that will hereinafter appear. A gear 33 fixed to the inner end of the sleeve 30 within the housing 26 meshes with a pinion Men the end of a shaft 35journaled within the housing 26 in driven relation through any appropriate gearing or connections with the power shaft of the motor 31, whereby to apply the power of said motor for simultaneous rotation of the shaft 32 and stem 39 in either the same, or opposite, directions as the drive to the shaft 35 may determine.

integrally or fixedly related with and diametrically of the outer end of the stem fit, a beam 36 symmetrically projects at opposite sides of the stem in a total span approximately the diameter of the earth bore wherein the frame it) may be accommodated, and preferablyintegral webs 37 securely brace the beam radial projections to the stem portion exterior of the extension 29 Spacedly parallel to the axis of the stem 30, a ripping tooth 38 fixedly or integrally outstands perpendicularly from each end of the beam 36 and is formed with a chisel-pointed'free end 39 directed away from said beam and its mounting stem 36 and additional ripping teeth 38', identical with the teeth 38 save as to location, are symmetrically spaced along and outstand from the beam 36 in parallel relation with said teeth 38, two such additional teeth 38 being shown on the beam at each side of the stem 30. Between and spaced from the innermost teeth 38, a hollow box 4ft rigidly outstands from the midlength of the beam 36 with its free end formed as, or operatively mounting, auger 4i coaxial with the stem Wand projecting away from the beam beyond the line joining the ends of the teeth 323 and 33'. Spacedly adjacent and parallel to the beam 36 at each side of the box M1, a crankshaft 42 is journaled in and through the teeth 38 and 38' and a side wall of the box it? with its angularly staggered crank throws d3 operatively disposed in the spaces between said teeth and between the box walls and the adjacent teetr. The crankshafts 42 at the opposite sides of the box iil are axially aligned perpendicular to the shaft 32, outer ends of said crankshafts carry crank arms 44 exteriorly adjacent the teeth 38, and inner ends of said crankshafts-mount bevel gears 45-interiorly of the box 4%) in meshed relation with a bevel pinion 46 fixed to an end portion of the shaft 32 longitudinally traversing said box and rotatably supported by antifriction bearings 47 mounted in the beam 36 and an end wall of the box. Thus, rotation of the shaft 32 is applied through the pinion 46 and gears 45 to simultaneously and oppositely rotate the two crankshafts 42.

Spacedly parallel to the .crankshafts 42 and at the side thereof remote from the beam 36, complementary crankshafts 48furnished-with crank throws 49 and crank arms 5 exactly corresponding to the throws 43 and arms 44 f the crankshafts 42 are journaled inand through the teeth 38 and 3,8 and at their inner ends in side walls of the box at and are linked to and for rotation deriving from the adjacent crankshafts42by means of gouge bars 51 journaled upon and uniformly interconnecting the crank pins of corresponding throws 43 and 9 and arms 4 and 5% With the organization of elements shown and described, rotation of the crankshafts' 42 as driven by the shaft 32 is transmitted through the gouge bars 51 to effect simultaneous and synchronous rotation of the complementary crankshafts 48 with consequent reciprocation of said gouge bars 51 toward and away from the beam 3dinmaintained parallelism with the axis of the stem 30. Ends of the gouge bars directed away from the beam 36 are chisel-edgedas at 52, in a length such as to project beyond the ends of the teeth 33 and 38 when the bar is atthe limit of its traveiaway from said beam, edges of said bars parallel to the: plane of the crankshaft axes may be furnished with spurs 53 outstanding therefrom between the crank pins on which the bar is mounted, and ends of the crank arms 50 and of the arms included in the crank throws 49 remote from the axis of the crankshafts 48 may be spurred, as at 54, to project at times beyond the spurred margins of the bars 51 and beyond the ends of the adjacent teeth 3? and 325' during'rotation-of the associated crankshafts.

Fixedly carried by and spacedly beneath the carriage 22, a roller track 55, preferably constituted as a longer portion underlying and parallel to the axis of the housing,

26 and extension 29 assembly and a shorter portion inclined upwardly beneath the end of the frame it) remote from the excavating head of the machine, extends longitudinally of and through the open lower side of the frame it for travel with said carriage within the orbit defined by the rollers 11. The roller track 55 terminates at one end beneath the stem 3% in clearing relation with the beam 36 as the latter rotates with said stem, the opposite end of said track preferably extends beyond the adjacent end of the frame lit, and said track mounts an endless conveyor 56in driven relation with an electric motor 57 whereof the power is applied to effect travel of the conveyor 56 upper run in a direction away from the excavating head of the machine.

In the practical use and operation of the organization shown and described, the frame It} may be fixed in and supported by a temporary scaffold or framework with the axis common to the housing 26 and stem 3h substantially horizontal and the points of the teeth 38 and 38' and the free end of the auger 4i directed against the face to be excavated; the motors 25 having been first operated to retract the carriage 22 and the members carried thereby to the end of the frame in remote from the excavating head. With the frame it} secured in appropriate position, the motor 31 is energized to drive the shafts 32 and 35 with consequent rotation of the stem 30 and the excavating head carried thereby about the axis represented by the shaft 32, and at the same time to rotate the crankshafts 42 and 48 for reciprocation of the gouge bars 51 in the manner above set forth. As the excavating head is caused to rotate about the axis represented by the shaft 32 with I the tip of the auger lli engaged with the working face, said auger generates a pilot bore as an initial disruption of the material under excavation which serves to steady and to guide the following elements of the excavating head. During rotation of the excavating head, the motors 25 are energized to rotate the feed screws 23 in a direction effective to advance the carriage 22 toward the working face and to thereby approach the excavating head to the material being worked, which action applies the ends of the teeth 38 and 38 to the material with a circular ripping action thereon and imposes impacts through the chisel ends of the gouge bars 51 successively and repetitiously to the working face area at each side of the groove paths generated by the ripping teeth. The disruptive action of the gouge bars is supplemented by a stripping action deriving from the spurs on the rotating crank throws 49 and by a rendering action imposed by the spurs 53, particularly at the extreme ends of the rotating excavating head, and the combined disruptive action peculiar to the machine as above explained rapidly generates a circular earth bore of a diameter slightly greater than the transverse dimension of the excavating head through stubborn material without an undue proportion of fines. As material is dislodged from the working face, it is collected upon the adjacent end of the conveyor 56 and is delivered as said conveyor is'driven by its motor 57 to discharge beyond the end of the machine remote from the working face. Obviously, the feed screws 23 are intermittently operated to maintain the disrupting elements of the excavating head in engagement with the working face and the carriage 22 is consequently advanced through the frame 10 until it reaches the limit of its feasible travel therein. As the earth bore is advanced, the carriage 22 is retracted within the frame 10 and the latter is shifted toward or within the earth bore to a new fixed position from which the excavating operations are continued; the construction and arrangement of the frame 10 accommodating secure positioning of said frame within the earth bore, and successive repositioning of said frame as the bore is advanced, without occasion for scaffolding or framework, all as hereinabove described.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the character described having a shiftable carriage, an excavating assembly comprising a housing removably secured centrally within the carriage, a tubular extension outstanding from said housing centrally of and beyond an end of the carriage, a tubular stem rotatively journaled through and projecting beyond the free end of said extension, an excavating head fixed diametrically of, extending at each side laterally from, and rotatable with the free end of said stem, an auger in said head coaxial with said stern, a series of fixed excavating teeth in said head at each side of, spaced outwardly from, and parallel to said auger, wherethrough to apply a rotation of said head with arcuate ripping eifect, bars between said teeth and at the outer ends of the head reciprocable parallel to the auger axis through the rotational plane generated by the free ends of said teeth, and a motor in said housing in rotational driving relation with said stem and head and simultaneous reciprocatory driving relation with said bars.

2. In a machine of the character described, an excavating head comprising a revoluble, tubular stem powered for rotation about its axis, a beam fixed diametrically of extending uniformly at each side laterally from, and rotatable with the free end of said stern, a gear box centrally of said beam at the side thereof remote from the stern, an auger fixedly outstanding from said gear box and coaxial with the stern, a series of fixed teeth outstanding from said beam at each side of, in a successive spacing outwardly from, and parallel to said auger, paired, complementary crankshafts journaled in spaced relation parallel to said beam in said teeth and gear box at each side of the auger, bars interlinking corresponding throws of said crankshafts in end projection beyond their connection with the crankshaft more remote from the beam, and a drive through said stem and gear box to the crankshaft adjacent the beam eifective to rotate said crankshaft when said stem is rotated.

3. In a machine of the character described having a revoluble tubular stem powered for rotation about its axis, an excavating head fixed diametrically of, extending uniformly at each side laterally from, and rotatable with the free end of said stern, an anger in said head coaxial with and outstanding oppositely from said stem, a series of fixed excavating teeth in said head at each side of, spaced outwardly from, and parallel to said auger in an extension from the head less than that of the auger, wherethrough to apply rotation of the head with arcuate ripping effect about a bore developed by the auger, bars between said teeth and at the outer ends of the head reciprocable parallel to the auger axis through the rotational plane generated by the free ends of said teeth, and means operable to reciprocate said bars as said stem and head are rotated.

4. In a machine of the character described having a revoluble tubular stem powered for rotation about its axis, an excavating head on and rotatable with the free end of said stem, said head comprising a beam fixed diametrically of and extending uniformly at each side laterally from the stem free end, a gear box centrally of said beam at the side thereof remote from the stem, an auger fixedly outstanding from said gear box coaxial with and oppositely from the stem, a series of fixed teeth outstanding from said beam at each side of, in a successive spacing outwardly from, and parallel to said auger, paired, complementary crankshafts journaled in spaced relation parallel to said beam in said teeth and gear box at each side of the auger, a throw terminating each said crankshaft exteriorly of a tooth at each end of the beam, bars interlinking corresponding throws of said crankshafts in end projection beyond their connection with the crankshaft more remote from the beam, whereby to dispose one such bar exteriorly adjacent each end of the beam, and a drive through said stem and gear box to the crankshaft adjacent the beam eifective to rotate said crankshaft when the stem is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,666 Cook Jan. 6, 1914 1,284,398 McKinlay Nov. 12, 1918 1,369,609 Bohn Feb. 22, 1921 1,501,093 Blower July 15, 1924 1,644,943 Osgood Oct. 11, 1927 1,674,870 Morgan June 26, 1928 2,250,670 Joy July 29, 1941 2,546,889 McCarthy Mar. 27, 1951 2,756,037 Kirkpatrick July 24, 1956 

